1970 American League Retirements

The baseball torch is passed from season to season and in some cases, from game to game. In 1911, Cy Young pitched his final Major League game, lost 1-0, and ended the final season of his career with a losing record of 7-9 and an ERA of 3.77. Young's opponent that particular day was a first-year pitcher named Grover Alexander who received the win, added to his league leading shutout total, and went on to begin his career with a winning record of 28-13 and an ERA of 2.57.

Bob Gibson, who was easily one of the most intense competitors of all time, gave up a grand slam to the last Major League hitter he faced, Pete LaCock of the Chicago Cubs. Fifteen years passed and when the two faced off during an old-timer's game, Gibson hit LaCock on his back with a fastball.

Babe Ruth summed it up when he responded to a question about retirement by saying, "A ballplayer should quit when it starts to feel as if all the baselines run uphill." Baseball Almanac is pleased to present a comprehensive list of American League League players who hung up their spikes in 1970.

"I'll never make the mistake of being seventy (70) again." - Casey Stengel comment made after being told to quit following the 1960 World Series
 

American League Retirements

1970

48 Richie Moloney Chicago White Sox P 20
26, 48 Terry Cox California Angels P 22
46 Dennis Saunders Detroit Tigers P 22
49 Loyd Colson New York Yankees P 23
49 George Lauzerique Milwaukee Brewers P 23
36 Norm McRae Detroit Tigers P 23
41 Ray Peters Milwaukee Brewers P 24
68 Harvey Shank California Angels P 24
42 Ken Szotkiewicz Detroit Tigers SS 24
8 Jarvis Tatum California Angels OF 24
15 Bob Christian Chicago White Sox OF 25
34 Greg Goossen Milwaukee Brewers 1B 25
24 Greg Goossen Washington Senators OF 25
19 Herman Hill Minnesota Twins OF 25
17, 26 Ray Jarvis Boston Red Sox P 25
28 Randy Brown California Angels C 26
11 Tony Horton Cleveland Indians 1B 26
8 John Matias Chicago White Sox OF 26
36 Dick Mills Boston Red Sox P 26
25 Russ Nagelson Cleveland Indians OF 26
31 Russ Nagelson Detroit Tigers OF 26
32 Don O'Riley Kansas City Royals P 26
27 Ed Phillips Boston Red Sox P 26
20 Bob Reed Detroit Tigers P 26
42 Jim Rittwage Cleveland Indians P 26
47 Gene Rounsaville Chicago White Sox P 26
18 Dick Such Washington Senators P 26
23 Mike Derrick Boston Red Sox OF 27
13 Vern Fuller Cleveland Indians 2B 27
27 Jerry Robertson Detroit Tigers P 27
27 Don Secrist Chicago White Sox P 27
19 Barry Moore Chicago White Sox P 28
31 Barry Moore Cleveland Indians P 28
17 Dave Morehead Kansas City Royals P 28
24 Danny Murphy Chicago White Sox P 28
40 Cotton Nash Minnesota Twins 1B 28
35 Darrell Osteen Oakland Athletics P 28
52 Joe Verbanic New York Yankees P 28
1 Luis Alcaraz Kansas City Royals 2B 29
30 Gerry Arrigo Chicago White Sox P 29
32 Gene Brabender Milwaukee Brewers P 29
31 Bruce Brubaker Milwaukee Brewers P 29
44 Jerry Crider Chicago White Sox P 29
23 Tommie Sisk Chicago White Sox P 29
46 Fred Talbot Oakland Athletics P 29
39 Wally Wolf California Angels P 29
19 Cisco Carlos Washington Senators P 30
45 Roberto Rodriguez Oakland Athletics P 30
36 Jose Santiago Boston Red Sox P 30
4 Tom Satriano Boston Red Sox C 30
7 Billy Sorrell Kansas City Royals 3B 30
35 Gary Wagner Boston Red Sox P 30
5 Jim Hicks California Angels PH 31
29 Lou Klimchock Cleveland Indians 1B 31
38 Bob Meyer Milwaukee Brewers P 31
5 Dick Nen Washington Senators 1B 31
16 Dooley Womack Oakland Athletics P 31
1, 42 Ray Oyler California Angels SS 32
7 Frank Quilici Minnesota Twins 2B 32
31 Jose Tartabull Oakland Athletics OF 32
31 Hawk Taylor Kansas City Royals C 32
10 Max Alvis Milwaukee Brewers 3B 33
10 Rich Rollins Cleveland Indians 3B 33
9 Rich Rollins Milwaukee Brewers 3B 33
25 Pete Ward New York Yankees 1B 33
14 Jerry Adair Kansas City Royals 2B 34
6, 12 George Spriggs Kansas City Royals OF 34
20 Lee Stange Boston Red Sox P 34
45 Lee Stange Chicago White Sox P 34
47 Bob Humphreys Milwaukee Brewers P 35
23 Bob Humphreys Washington Senators P 35
32 Bob Johnson Oakland Athletics 3B 35
4 Bob Allison Minnesota Twins OF 36
17 Pedro Ramos Washington Senators P 36
7 Russ Snyder Milwaukee Brewers OF 36
16 Earl Wilson Detroit Tigers P 36
9 Tito Francona Milwaukee Brewers 1B 37
36 Tito Francona Oakland Athletics 1B 37
27 Minnie Mendoza Minnesota Twins 3B 37
13 Johnny Roseboro Washington Senators C 38
1970 American League Retirements



Find out which players made their Major League debut in the American League during the 1970 season as this group of players bid farewell to their field's of dreams.

On July 28, 1976, Blue Moon Odom pitched the final five innings of his Major League career. He was relieved by Francisco Barrios in the sixth inning and the two White Sox combined to pitch a 2-1 no-hitter versus the Oakland Athletics.

Hank Aaron ended his Major League career on October 3, 1976, with a sharp single during the sixth inning off Dave Roberts of the Detroit Tigers.